Mobile power shovel structure

ABSTRACT

A mobile power shovel structure has a frame supported on groundengaging wheels and in turn supporting a prime mover and power operated clamshell-like shovel bucket which can be telescopingly raised and lowered as well as variably inclined with respect to the ground and even translationally positioned from a digging position to a dumping position; a power conveyor carried by the frame accepts the material dumped by the bucket and conveys such material to a cooperating receiving receptacle such as a dump truck.

0 United States Patent i 13,591,024

[72] Inventor Glen V. Runge 2,770,057 11/1956 Camp 214/147 X Hudsonville, Mich. 2,770,379 11/1956 Przybylski 214/147 (G) [21] Appl. No. 813,913 2,949,201 8/1960 MacAlphine et a1. 214/90 X [22] Filed Apr. 7,1969 3,167,194 1/1965 Davis et a1. 214/138 [45] Patented July 6,1971 3,184,867 5/1965 Symmank.... 214/138 [73] Assignee Kent Engineering 3,319,813 5/1967 Beyea 214/147 (G) X Grand Rapids Mlch' Primary Examiner-Albert .l. Makay v Atlorney-Dale A. Winnie [54] MOBILE POWER SHOVEL STRUCTURE 8 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 214/91, 214/147 [51] lnLCl EOZf 7/00 ABSTRACT: A mobile power shovel structure has a frame [50] Field of Search 214/89, 90, Supported on d in wheel and in turn supporting a 91, 92, 147, 144, 147 G, 138, DIG. 9 ime mover and power operated clamshell-like shovel bucket which can be telescopingly raised and lowered as well as [56] References Cned variably inclined with respect to the ground and even transla- UNITED STATES PATENTS tionally positioned from a digging position to a dumping posi 1,307,009 6/ 1919 Joy 214/89 tion; a power conveyor carried by the frame accepts the 1,392,069 9/ 1921 McDermott... 214/90 material dumped by the bucket and conveys such material to a 2,639,048 5/1953 Glashaw 214/138 X cooperating receiving receptacle such as a dump truck.

PATENTED JUL 6 Ian SHEET 1 BF 3 FOR I 1 V I1, 6/622 5&2296 fl u 62. Wm

AT TORNEY PATENTEUJUL SIS?! 3,591 024 sum 3 OF 3 INVENTOR.

67m Azm ge 9,42 Q. 21w

MOBILE POWER SHOVEL STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Catch basins are usually installed at points along city streets as a means of draining off the surface water that accumulates on the streets during rain or melting snow. However, such surface waters usually carry with it, silt and other debris causing a rapid accumulation of such silt and debris within the catch basins. Such accumulation is quite rapid requiring cleaning of such catch basins about once every two years.

Usually several men are required in order to clean a single catch basin of such silt and debris. Aside from being very dirty work, it is also slow and tedious in that the group of men form little more than a bucket brigade. That is, one of the men must climb down into the catch basin to fill a container with the silt, sludge and debris and then pass it upwardly to other men who sequentially pass the container as to a waiting truck which, when filled, will carry away such waste material.

Very few catch basins can be cleaned in a single work day by even a good crew of men. In large cities men are assigned solely to this task of cleaning catch basins; however, in smaller cities such men normally have other duties so that in time they get further and further behind in the schedule of cleaning catch basins.

The cleaning of such catch basins can not be effectively accomplished by the use of vacuum pumps or positive displacement pumps because of the varying size and configuration of the debris as well as the density of the silt and sludge formed in such catch basins.

Accordingly, the invention as herein disclosed and claimed concerns itself with the solution of the above as well as other related problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a mobile power shovel structure comprises a mobile frame, a shovel member operatively carried by said frame, first means carried by said frame for reciprocatingly extending and withdrawing said shovel member into and out of an area containing material to be excavated, and second means operatively carried by said frame for translationally moving said shovel member from a first position generally overlying said area to a second position generally overlying third receiving means for receiving such of said material as is carried by said shovel member.

Accordingly, a general object of this invention is to provide a mobile power shovel structure which can be moved from location t0,location and which has means for cleaning or excavating material from areas such as catch basins without the need for any manual cleaning of such catch basin.

Another object of the invention is to provide in such a mobile power shovel structure, means whereby the shovel member can be extended and withdrawn as needed in order to accomplish a digging or scooping action and then translationally moved to an unloading position for discharging the material carried by the shovel member into an associated receiving member.

Other more specific objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent when reference is made to the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, where certain details may be omitted from one or more views for purposes of clarity:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a mobile power shovel structure constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, with certain portions thereof broken away, of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally on the plane of line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally on the plane ofline 4-4 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view taken generally on the plane ofline 5-5 of FIG. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the subassemblies shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally on the plane of line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary end view taken generally on the plane of line 8-8 of FIG. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally on the plane of line 9-9 of FIG. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken generally on the plane of line l010 of FIG. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic circuit diagram of the basic hydraulic system employed in the preferred embodiment of the inventron.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a mobile power shovel structure 10 as being comprised of a generally laterally disposed frame assembly 12 formed as by transversely extending frame members 14 and 16 which are joined at their ends by parallel side frame members 18 and 20. The respective frame members, which may be of hollow rectangular cross section, may be joined to each other as by welding or any other suitable metal joining process. A pair of generally parallel inner frame members 22 and 24, inboard of side frame members 18 and 20, are secured at their respective opposite ends to transverse frame members 14 and 16 and, in turn, serve to provide support for other subframe members. A plurality of generally transverse support members are joined at their respective ends to the side frame member 18 and the inboard frame member 22 in order to, in turn, support various related components.

For example, a pair of sections of angle iron 26 and 28 are secured or joined to frame members 18 and 22 in order to support thereon a prime mover 30 such as an internal combustion engine of sufficient capacity, while a length of generally rectangular tubing 32, also joined to frame members 18 and 22, provides a means for anchoring one leg 34 of an axle support assembly 36. As can be best seen in FIG. 3, the axle support assembly 36 also includes a second strut or leg 38, secured at its upper end to transverse frame member 16, suitably joined at its lower end to leg 34 and in turn secured, as by welding or through the use of suitable U-bolts as is well known in the art, to an axle assembly 40 which carries, at its opposite ends, ground engaging wheels 42 and 44. It should be clear that two such axle support assemblies 36 are employed. That is, one such assembly is situated slightly inboard of each of the ground-engaging wheels 42 and 44.

Similarly, a support platform 46, secured to frame members 18 and 22, serves to support a battery 48 (for operation of the related electrical system of engine 30), a hydraulic or fluid pump assembly 50 and a suitable fluid flow divider assembly 52. As shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2 sheaves 31 and 33 respectively operatively connected to the motor 30 and pump 50 are interconnected by a suitable drive belt 35 for the transmission of power. A hydraulic fluid or oil tank 54 may be carried as by a pair of oppositely disposed support brackets 56 secured to cooperating frame members of the frame assembly 12. A filter 58 is serially situated with respect to the fluid tank 54 so as to continually filter possible contaminates from the fluid flow from tank 54.

The frame assembly 12 may include a tongue bar member 60, secured at one end to transverse frame member 14, which is supported by a pair of angularly positioned legs or struts 62 and 64 which are respectively joined at their respective opposite ends to tongue member 60 and transverse frame member 14. The other end of tongue bar 60 may have provided thereon a suitable ringlike portion 66 by which the entire shovel structure 10 can be suitably secured to a vehicle in order to be towed thereby. Further, a jack wheel or dollie wheel assembly 68 is carried by tongue bar 60, in a manner well known in the art, for supporting the frame assembly 12 on the road or ground surface 70 when the shovel structure is not being towed. Of course, the jack wheel assembly 68 is axially (vertically) adjustable as is the usual practice.

On the other side of frame assembly 12, a pair of upstanding brackets 72 and 74 (FIG. 1) are respectively secured at their lower ends to transverse frame member 14 and an intermediate support bar or member 76 which is, in turn, secured to side frame member and inboard frame member 24. Brackets 72 and 74 serve to support a generally horizontal bridginglike platform-type support 78 to which, at the under side thereof, are secured hydraulic valve assemblies 80 and 82. The valve assemblies include manually actuated hydraulic valve controls as respectively indicated at 84, 86, 88, 90 and FIGS. 1 and 2 also illustrate a power driven conveyor assembly 94 comprised of upper oppositely disposed sidewalls 96 and 98 provided with lower disposed angle members 100 and extending cross-support or joining members as typically illustrated at 104, 106 and 108. Conveyor assembly 94 also includes lower oppositely disposed sidewalls 110 and 112 similarly provided with lower disposed angle reinforcing members 114 and 116 which are also joined to each other by a plurality of transversely extending cross-support or joining members as typically illustrated at 118 and 120.

An idler type conveyor belt support roller, shown at 122 of FIGS. 1 and 2, is located between the lower sidewalls 110 and 112 and retained therein for free pivotal rotation while a power drive roller 124 is situated at the upper end of the conveyor assembly 94 in a manner so as to have the conveyor belt 126 loop over and back under it. Suitable adjustment means 128, which may be comprised of guided slidable pivot blocks, for power roller 124 may be provided in order to accommodate variations in the overall length of conveyor belt 126. A hydraulic motor assembly 130, operatively connected with the fluid pump 50 as by suitable conduitry 132 and 134, serves to drive the power roller 124.

The entire conveyor assembly is secured in the inclined position by means of a general pedestal assembly 136 comprised of vertically extending support legs 138 and 140 respectively secured at their lower ends, as by welding, to tonguesupporting legs 62 and 64. The upper ends oflegs 138 and 140 are secured, as by a pin or threadable fastener to a transverse block 142 secured to the underside of angle members 100, 102, while a U-bolt 144 anchors the lower end of conveyor assembly 94 to the axle assembly 40 as typically shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The legs of the U-bolt would pass through cross brace 108 and be secured thereto as by nuts 146 and 148.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, it can be seen that upper sidewalls 96, 98 and lower sidewalls, 110, 112 are so situated as to be in generally end-to-end abutting relationship when in the position illustrated. As typically illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a hinge assembly 94 so as to enable the lower sidewalls 110 and 112 to be swung upwardly, in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4, whenever the shovel structure 10 is to be moved to another location. Each hinge assembly 150 is comprised of a side support plate 152 suitably secured, as by welding, to the adjoining upper sidewall (98 in FIG. 4) and a similar support plate 154 secured to the adjoining lower sidewall (112 in FIG. 4). A hinge bar 156 secured to support plate 152, as by threaded fasteners 158 and 160, projects over support plate 154 so as to permit the passage therethrough and into support plate 154 of a hinge or pivot pin 162. Accordingly, it can be seen that the hinge assembly thereby provides for pivotal rotation of the lower sidewalls 110 and 112 generally about the centerline 164 of pin 162. When a particular catch basin is cleaned the lower end of conveyor assembly 94 can be swung upwardly about pivot 162 and secured in such an elevated position as by a chain passing beneath the elevated conveyor portion and secured to suitable anchors 166 and 168 carried on frame member l6.

A boom assembly 170 for carrying the shovel member or bucket 172 is comprised of a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly 174 having a housing or outer casing 176 containing therein the cylinder barrel and a reciprocably positionable piston to which is secured a piston rod 178 movable therewith. Preferably, piston rod 178 would be keyed with respect to housing 176, in any manner well known in the art, so as to assure a particular continued relationship of the bucket 172 with respect to the housing 176 and related components.

The free end of piston rod 178 carries a flange portion 180 for securing thereto a second hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly having an outer housing 182 containing the cylinder barrel and piston rod 184 extending therefrom as well as laterally extending support brackets (one of which is shown at 186) disposed at opposite sides of housing 182. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the upper end of housing 182 is provided with a flange 181 which can be mounted as illustrated or rotated 90 from that'position so as to accordingly rotate the bucket 172 with respect to the assembly 174. The free end of piston rod 184 carries a transversely extending block 188 which has its opposite ends pivotally connected to both halves 190 and 192 of the clamshell-like bucket or shovel 172. Further, a first pair of hanger straps or linkages 194 and 196, respectively pivotally secured at their upper ends to the opposed support brackets, are pivotally secured at their lower ends to bucket half 190. Similarly, a second pair of linkages 198 and 200 pivotally secure bucket-half 192 to the same support brackets.

Of course, suitable conduit portions 202 and 204 are provided on housing 182 and conduit portions 206 and 208 are provided on housing 176. Such conduit portions are operatively connected to suitable related hydraulic circuitry and valving means 80, 82 so as to direct relatively high fluid pressure into any selected one within such pair of conduit portrons.

In view of the above, it should be apparent that as high pressure is admitted to conduit portion 202, piston rod 184 will be moved downwardly causing each half 190 and 192 of shovel member 172 to experience both rotation (about the pivotal connections with block 188) and translation by virtue of the attendant rotation about the lower ends of the support linkages 194, 196 and 198, 200. Consequently, the lower jaws or edges of the bucket halves 190 and 192 are caused to open by generally moving away from each other so as to, when opened, somewhat resemble an opened clamshell.

Further, the entire bucket or shovel assembly 172 will move downwardly or upwardly depending upon whether high fluid pressure is directed to conduit 206 or conduit 208 respectively.

The boom assembly 170 also comprises an arm structure 210 fixedly secured or joined at the upper end to cylinder housing 176 and pivotally secured at its lower end, as at 212, to a turntable assembly 216 as through pivot support brackets 214. The housing 176 is also joined at a second point to the turntable assembly 216; that is, a pivot support bracket 218 carried by the housing 176 is connected to the end of a piston rod 220 of a piston and cylinder assembly which has its housing 222 pivotally secured to the turntable assembly 216 by means of a pivot support bracket 224. As with the other cylinder assemblies, cylinder housing 222 is provided with conduit portions 226 and 228 by which high fluid pressure can be admitted in order to extend or withdraw piston rod 220. Of course, high pressure admitted through conduit 228 will cause piston rod 220 to be withdrawn some degree and cause attendant counterclockwise rotation (as viewed in FIG. 1) of boom assembly 170 about pivot support bracket 214. Admission of high pressure through conduit 226 would cause the opposite movement of piston rod 220 and opposite movement of piston rod 220 and opposite rotation of boom assembly 170.

Referring now to FIGS. 610, it can be seen that the turntable assembly 216 is comprised of a rotatable disc support plate 230 which has fixedly secured thereto, centrally thereof, one end of a drive shaft 232 which extends downwardly through an intermediate support plate 234 carrying a bearing block 236 atop thereof. A tubular thrust bearing 238 pinned through shaft 232 may be employed to limit any relative axial movement of shaft 232. A plurality of roller and bracket assemblies are secured to the frame 12in a manner so as to preferably have four such roller assemblies situated in a manner as to be angularly spaced at 90 generally with respect to the circumference of the disc support 230. Two of such roller assemblies 240 and 242 are shown in FIG. 6, while FIG. 1 illustrates the same two plus a third roller assembly 244. The fourth roller assembly, not shown, would be preferably located on inboard frame member 24 at a point below the bracket 246, pivotally supporting a cylinder and piston assembly 248 (as viewed in FIG. 2). In view of the above, it can be seen that as shaft 232 is rotated, disc support 230 is correspondingly rotated while engaging, at its lower surface 250, the respective roller assemblies secured to the various elements comprising the frame 12.

An elongated channellike rocket platform 252 has secured to the underside thereof first and second pivot arms 254 and 256 which are received within and pivotally secured as by pins 257 and 259 to pivot support brackets 258 and 260 each secured to the disc support plate 230 so as to rotate therewith.

As previously indicated, a pivot support bracket 246 secured to disc support plate 230 is pivotally secured to one end of housing 262 of a piston and cylinder assembly 248. The free end of housing 262 of a piston rod 264 is in turn pivotally secured to a bracket or yoke 266 carried at the upper end of an armlike post member 268 which is secured at its lower end to rocker platform 252. Suitable reinforcing gussets 270 and 272 may be secured to opposite sides of arm 268 and platform 252 in order to assure the rigid connection between arm 268 and platform 252.

Cylinder assembly 248 is also provided with conduit portions 274 and 276 for the selective admission of fluid pressure thereto. For example, if high fluid pressure is admitted through conduit 276 piston rod 264 will be extended causing the platform 252 to rotate counterclockwise about pivot pins 257 and 259 as viewed in either FIGS. 9 or 10. Conversely, if high fluid pressure is admitted through conduit 274 piston rod will be drawn in causing platform 252 to rotate clockwise about pivots 257 and 259.

A fifth piston and cylinder assembly 278 (FIGS. 1 and 2) has its housing 280 pivotally secured to a support bracket 282 carried by the underside of inboard frame member 24. The piston rod 284 of cylinder assembly 278 operatively carries a yokelike bracket 286 which is pivotally connected, as by a pin 288, to a lever arm 290. As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 actuating lever arm 290 is suitably secured at its other end to the shaft 232 and keyed thereto so as to impart rotation into shaft 232 whenever piston rod 284 is either extended or withdrawn. The cylinder and piston assembly 278 housing 280 is provided with conduit portions 292 and 294. When high pressure fluid is admitted through conduit portion 292, piston rod 284 is extended causing disc support 232 and platform 252 to rotate clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 6 while the admission of high fluid pressure through conduit portion 294 will cause piston rod 284 to be withdrawn thereby rotating disc support 232 and attendant elements counterclockwise.

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates the hydraulic system employed in embodiment of the invention disclosed. For exam ple, it can be seen that the tank or reservoir 54 supplies hydraulic fluid via 296 to the pump 50 from where the fluid flows to the flow divider 52 and is directed via 298 to the hydraulic motor 130 and exhausted therefrom and returned to the low pressure of tank 54 via 300 and filter 58. A second flow path 302 extends from divider 52 to valve assembly 82 and to a second valve assembly 80 via parallel branch 304. The valve assemblies, 80 and 82, via 306 and parallel branch 308, exhaust to tank 54 through filter 58. It will be noted that there are five cylinder and piston assemblies and that there are five manually positionable valve levers 84, 86, 88, 90 and 92. Each of the levers in effect controls the communication of both high and low pressure with a pair of conduits. Such pairs of conduits communicate with a particular cylinder and piston assembly so that movement of the valve lever in one direction places high pressure in one of the conduits comprising the particular pair and low pressure in the other of the conduits of that pair of conduits. Movement of the same lever in the opposite direction to a second position would reverse the pressure of such conduits.

OPERATION As previously generally indicated the power shovel structure 10 may be transported as by towing to the site of a catch basin to be cleaned and there positioned so as to place the turntable assembly 216 in somewhat close proximity to the access opening of the catch basin. After the engine 30 is started and hydraulic pressure created by pump 50 the boom assembly 170 is positioned generally as shown in FIG. 1. At this time valve lever 92 is actuated directing high pressure to the conduit portion 202 of cylinder housing 182 causing piston rod 184 to move downwardly resulting in bucket or shovel halves 190 and 192 to open. Valve lever is then actuated directing high pressure to the conduit portion 206 of cylinder housing 176 causing piston rod 178 to be extended thereby lowering the opened bucket or shovel member 172 into the catch basin and the silt and debris contained therein. Valve lever 92 is now actuated to a second position causing high fluid pressure to be directed to the conduit portion 204 of cylinder housing 182 causing piston rod 184 to move upwardly thereby closing the shovel halves 190 and 192 so as to scoop and contain therein a quantity of the silt and debris being excavated from the catch basin.

Subsequently, valve lever 90 is actuated to a second position directing high fluid pressure to conduit portion 208 of cylinder housing 176 in order to cause piston rod 178 to raise and withdraw into the housing 176 thereby raising the bucket assembly 172 generally to the position illustrated. Next, valve control lever 86 is actuated in order to direct high fluid pressure to conduit portion 294 of cylinder housing 280 of cylinder assembly 278. This cause piston rod-284 to be.

withdrawn into housing 280 and, because of its connection to turntable shaft 232, rotate turntable assembly disc support plate 230 counterclockwise (as viewed in either FIG. 2 or 6) rotating with it the boom assembly from its first digging position indicated by centerline 314 in FIG. 2, to a second dumping or discharging position indicated by centerline 314a, also of FIG. 2. As will be noted by both FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower end of conveyor assembly 94 is provided with a hopperlike wall arrangement 310; when the bucket 172 is so positioned as at 172a it is placed generally in an overlying position with respect to the hopper wall 310. Valve control lever 92 is then again actuated to cause high pressure to move piston shaft or rod 184 to move downwardly and open the bucket halves 190 and 192 and thereby discharge the material contained within the bucket into the hopper section 310. Such material within the hopper 310 is then carried upwardly by the moving conveyor belt 126 and discharged at the top thereof into a suitable conveyance such as a waiting dump-type truck (not shown).

With the bucket halves remaining open, the turntable disc support plate 230 is rotated clockwise, by actuating valve control lever 86 to a position whereat high pressure is admitted to conduit portion 292 of cylinder housing 280, until the centerline of the boom assembly again reaches the position generally indicated at 314. At this point the digging action and the discharging of such excavated material is repeated as set forth above.

It should be apparent that the boom assembly 170 need not necessarily be positioned, during the digging operation, so as to be perpendicular to the general plane of the frame 12 or the plane of the surface 70. Various conditions may exist which would require the boom assembly 170 to assume some other relative position. For example, if the road surface was inclined with respect to the major axis of the catch basin valve control lever 84 would be actuated to direct high pressure fluid to either conduit portion 27d or 276 of cylinder housing 262 (FIG. 6) in order to either rock the platform 252 either clockwise or counterclockwise about pivots 257 and 259 (FIGS. 9 and 10) in order to achieve inclination of the boom assembly 170. Further, compound inclination of the boom assembly can be achieved by actuating both cylinder assemblies 222 and 248. This feature of the invention enables the exact positioning of the shovel boom assembly 170 into whatever angular position or altitude is required in order to effect rapid digging and withdrawal operation of the bucket assembly 172. Further, such adjustment and positioning means enable the bucket or shovel member 172 to be accurately directed to specific or exact areas within the catch basin in order to remove therefrom any debris which has become packed or lodged therein.

After the catch basin is closed, the bucket halves 190 and 192 are closed and the piston rod 178 fully withdrawn. Next, with the boom assembly 170 and shovel 172 in the position generally shown in H6. 1, valve control lever 88 is actuated so as to direct high pressure to conduit portion 228 of cylinder housing 222 causing piston rod 220 to become fully withdrawn; this lifts the boom assembly 170 generally upwardly and pivotally about pivot 212 until the cylinder assembly 174 is generally parallel to the plane of the frame assembly 12. At that time the upper end of the boom assembly 170 may be suitably anchored or secured to an upstanding support 316 carried by transverse frame member 141. With the engine 30 being shutdown, the lower portion of conveyor assembly 94, including the hopper 310 and rest block 312, is rotated upwardly about pivots 162 and secured in such position as by a supporting chain (not shown) secured to support hooks 166 and 163. The entire power shovel structure 10 is now ready to be moved to another digging location.

It should also be made clear that, for purposes of clarity and discussion, the digging position has been illustrated by centerline 314; however, the digging can very well vary from that of centerline 314 and may in fact be one wherein the boom assembly 170 is in fact rotated 90 or more clockwise from the position illustrated in FIG. 2 thereby enabling the operator to more closely observe the actual digging while stationed close to the control levers.

it can be seen that the invention provides structure which is highly mobile and which because of its many considered means for adjustment is highly suitable for use in such circumstances as those of cleaning catch basins.

Although only one preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described it is apparent that other embodiments and modifications of the invention are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A mobile power shovel structure, comprising a mobile base, a shovel member, first means operatively carried by said base for generally vertically reciprocatingly extending and withdrawing said shovel member into and out of an area containing material to be excavated, second means operatively carried by said base for translationally moving said shovel member from a first position generally overlying said area to a second position generally overlying a third means operatively carried by said base for receiving such of said material as is carried by said shovel member, and fourth means operatively interconnecting said first means and said mobile base, said fourth means comprising a four-bar linkage arrangement having one bar of variably determinable length, said four-bar linkage arrangement being effective to support said first means in a generally vertical position when said one bar is of an extended length, and said four-bar linkage arrangement being effective to move said first means to a position generally overlying said mobile base and approaching a more nearly horizontal position when said one bar is ofa contracted length.

2. A mobile power shovel structure according to claim 1, wherein said second means comprises rotatable support means directly engageable with said mobile base so as to be always in at least a generally parallel planar relationship with said mobile base, and wherein said fourth means comprises hinged platformlike support means carried by and atop said rotatable means, said hinged support means being effective upon being inclined with respect to said rotatable means for variably positioning said first means from positions on either side of and including a medial position normal with respect to the plane of said base.

3. A mobile power shovel structure according to claim 1, wherein said third means comprises conveyor means carried by said mobile base and positioned so as to convey such of said material as is deposited thereon by said shovel member when said shovel member is in said second position from said second position to an associated storage means, said conveyor means comprising at least first and second conveyor sections with said first conveyor section being fixedly secured to said mobile base at an inclined attitude with respect thereto, and hinging means pivotally securing said second conveyor section to said first conveyor section, said hinging means enabling said second conveyor section to by pivotally elevated during times that said mobile base is being moved from one location to another.

4. A mobile power shovel structure according to claim 3, wherein said second conveyor section is disposed at the lower end of said first conveyor section, and including a hopperlike housing structure carried by said second conveyor section at the lower end thereof so as to be generally swingable with said second conveyor section about said hinge means.

5. A mobile power shovel structure, comprising a mobile frame, a shovel member, first means operatively carried by said frame for reciprocatingly extending and withdrawing said shovel member into and out of an area containing material to be excavated, and second means operatively carried by said frame for translationally moving said shovel member from a first position generally overlying said area to a second position generally overlying third means operatively carried by said frame for receiving such of said material as is carried by said shovel member, said second means comprising a turntable assembly, said turntable assembly comprising a powered rotatable support member, a platform, hinge means securing said platform to said rotatable support member, said hinge means permitting said platform to be at times positioned in any of a plurality of positions with respect to said rotatable support member including a parallel position as well as angularly inclined positions to both sides of said parallel position, a lever arm carried at one end by said platform, a first pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly including a first piston rod, first pivot means carried by said rotatable support member, second pivot means carried by an other end of said lever arm, said first pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly being operatively connected to said first and second pivot means and being effective to pivot said platform about the centerline of said hinge means whenever said first piston rod is either extended or withdrawn from a preselected starting position, third pivot means carried by said platform, said third pivot means being so positioned as to have the pivoted centerline thereof spaced from and generally normal to the direction of said centerline of said hinge means, and fourth pivot means carried by said platform, said fourth pivot means being so positioned so as to have the pivotal centerline thereof spaced from and generally normal to the direction of said centerline of said hinge means, said centerline of said fourth pivot means also being spaced from and generally parallel to the centerline of said third pivot means, said third pivot means being effective for pivotally supporting one end of a second lever arm carried by said first means, and said fourth pivot means being effective for pivotally anchoring one end of actuating means operatively connected at an other end to said first means.

6. A mobile power shovel structure according to claim 5, wherein said first means comprises a second pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly including a housing and a second piston rod, wherein said shovel member comprises a clamshell-like bucket assembly having openable and closable bucket halves, said bucket assembly being operatively connected to and carried by said second piston rod for movement therewith, wherein said second lever arm pivotally supported at one end by said third pivot means is of a fixed length and connected at its other end to said housing of said second pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly, and wherein said actuating means comprises a third pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly including a third piston rod, said third piston and cylinder assembly being effectively pivotally supported by said fourth pivot means and means carried by said housing of second pressure responsive piston and cylinder in order to pivotally rotate said second pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly about the centerline of said third pivot means whenever said third piston rod is either withdrawn or extended.

7. A mobile power shovel structure according to claim 5, in-

cluding supporting roller means interposed between said frame and said rotatable support member so as to support said rotatable support member in spaced relation to said frame, including a drive shaft journaled through said frame and secured at one end to said rotatable support member and operatively connected to a second pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly for at times imparting rotational motion to said rotatable support member.

8. A mobile power shovel structure according to claim 7, wherein said supporting roller means comprise a plurality of roller assemblies fixedly secured to said frame in a manner as to be angularly spaced about said drive shaft, each of said roller assemblies including a roller member in rolling contact with said rotatable support member. 

1. A mobile power shovel structure, comprising a mobile base, a shovel member, first means operatively carried by said base for generally vertically reciprocatingly extending and withdrawing said shovel member into and out of an area containing material to be excavated, second means operatively carried by said base for translationally moving said shovel member from a first position generally overlying said area to a second position generally overlying a third means operatively carried by said base for receiving such of said material as is carried by said shovel member, and fourth means operatively interconnecting said first means and said mobile base, said fourth means comprising a fourbar linkage arrangement having one bar of variably determinable length, said four-bar linkage arrangement being effective to support said first means in a generally vertical position when said one bar is of an extended length, and said four-bar linkage arrangement being effective to move said first means to a position generally overlying said mobile base and approaching a more nearly horizontal position when said one bar is of a contracted length.
 2. A mobile power shovel structure according to claim 1, wherein said second means comprises rotatable support means directly engageable with said mobile base so as to be always in at least a generally parallel planar relationship with said mobile base, and wherein said fourth means comprises hinged platformlike support means carried by and atop said rotatable means, said hinged support means being effective upon being inclined with respect to said rotatable means for variably positioning said first means from positions on either side of and including a medial position normal with respect to the plane of said base.
 3. A mobile power shovel structure according to claim 1, wherein said third means comprises conveyor means carried by said mobile base and positioned so as to convey such of said material as is deposited thereon by said shovel member when said shovel member is in said second position from said second position to an associated storage means, said conveyor means comprising at least first and second conveyor sections with said first conveyor section being fixedly secured to said mobile base at an inclined attitude with respect thereto, and hinging means pivotally securing said second conveyor section to said first conveyor section, said hinging means enabling said second conveyor section to by pivotally elevated during times that said mobile base is being moved from one location to another.
 4. A mobile power shovel structure according to claim 3, wherein said second conveyor section is disposed at the lower end of said first conveyor section, and including a hopperlike housing structure carried by said second conveyor section at the lower end thereof so as to be generally swingable with said second conveyor section about said hinge means.
 5. A mobile power shovel structure, cOmprising a mobile frame, a shovel member, first means operatively carried by said frame for reciprocatingly extending and withdrawing said shovel member into and out of an area containing material to be excavated, and second means operatively carried by said frame for translationally moving said shovel member from a first position generally overlying said area to a second position generally overlying third means operatively carried by said frame for receiving such of said material as is carried by said shovel member, said second means comprising a turntable assembly, said turntable assembly comprising a powered rotatable support member, a platform, hinge means securing said platform to said rotatable support member, said hinge means permitting said platform to be at times positioned in any of a plurality of positions with respect to said rotatable support member including a parallel position as well as angularly inclined positions to both sides of said parallel position, a lever arm carried at one end by said platform, a first pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly including a first piston rod, first pivot means carried by said rotatable support member, second pivot means carried by an other end of said lever arm, said first pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly being operatively connected to said first and second pivot means and being effective to pivot said platform about the centerline of said hinge means whenever said first piston rod is either extended or withdrawn from a preselected starting position, third pivot means carried by said platform, said third pivot means being so positioned as to have the pivoted centerline thereof spaced from and generally normal to the direction of said centerline of said hinge means, and fourth pivot means carried by said platform, said fourth pivot means being so positioned so as to have the pivotal centerline thereof spaced from and generally normal to the direction of said centerline of said hinge means, said centerline of said fourth pivot means also being spaced from and generally parallel to the centerline of said third pivot means, said third pivot means being effective for pivotally supporting one end of a second lever arm carried by said first means, and said fourth pivot means being effective for pivotally anchoring one end of actuating means operatively connected at an other end to said first means.
 6. A mobile power shovel structure according to claim 5, wherein said first means comprises a second pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly including a housing and a second piston rod, wherein said shovel member comprises a clamshell-like bucket assembly having openable and closable bucket halves, said bucket assembly being operatively connected to and carried by said second piston rod for movement therewith, wherein said second lever arm pivotally supported at one end by said third pivot means is of a fixed length and connected at its other end to said housing of said second pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly, and wherein said actuating means comprises a third pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly including a third piston rod, said third piston and cylinder assembly being effectively pivotally supported by said fourth pivot means and means carried by said housing of second pressure responsive piston and cylinder in order to pivotally rotate said second pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly about the centerline of said third pivot means whenever said third piston rod is either withdrawn or extended.
 7. A mobile power shovel structure according to claim 5, including supporting roller means interposed between said frame and said rotatable support member so as to support said rotatable support member in spaced relation to said frame, including a drive shaft journaled through said frame and secured at one end to said rotatable support member and operatively connected to a second pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly for at times imparting rotational mOtion to said rotatable support member.
 8. A mobile power shovel structure according to claim 7, wherein said supporting roller means comprise a plurality of roller assemblies fixedly secured to said frame in a manner as to be angularly spaced about said drive shaft, each of said roller assemblies including a roller member in rolling contact with said rotatable support member. 